clearance

Fitting comfort

Rigidity

Precision

Grip

Easy dressing

Arch shape, asymmetrical, and significant tension in the heel (moderate level). This shape includes a midsole to provide significantly greater precision and power during your movements on small holds. 
Please note: this shape is suited to highly technical climbing and may reduce foot comfort slightly (especially on Greek-shaped feet). This is why we have chosen a moderate level to combine comfort and performance.

Shoe shape

Thanks to our biomechanists, who analyzed scans of hundreds of female climbers' feet, we took into account the morphological specificities of women's feet to improve comfort and precision. 
This shoe consequently has a smaller metatarsal circumference and heel volume than the Men's Vertika to better fit women's feet.
That's not to say that it wouldn't also be perfectly suitable for men with narrow feet.

What does "engineered for women's feet" mean?

XS Grip Vibram® 4 mm (1/5") rubber
XS Grip is a soft, very grippy rubber for good traction, especially on flat or rounded holds.
We used a soft rubber on the heel to conform to holds and to grip well when you plant your heel.
We reinforced the sole with a midsole to provide support and power.

Sole

We chose to develop the shoe's upper with synthetic leather lining (thickness= 2.5 mm [1/10"]) to prevent the shoe from loosening over time. We designed the tongue component to be highly breathable and provide foot comfort.

Upper

Did you know? The better a rubber’s grip, the more it wears out, especially in indoor climbing. 
This is why we have chosen to work with Vibram, a recognized specialist in the market since 1937, and have carefully selected the rubber offering the best balance between durability and grip.
Our tests show that on average, rubber wears away in 6 months, on the front and/or top of the shoes. This can happen more or less quickly, depending on how you place your feet.

Wear-and-tear on the sole

Is your sole worn out? Don't throw away your shoe. It would be a shame ecologically and economically speaking. 
Visit our Decathlon shops to find out where to resole your shoe 
With your sole changed, you can continue climbing with the shoe already moulded to your feet. Warning: as soon as you see synthetic leather through the rubber, you should stop using it and get the sole repaired. If you pierce the synthetic leather, resoling will not be possible.

Resoling service

If you are a climber working to improve your skills, you can buy them tighter (1/2 -1 size below normal, for example), but it's important they don't hurt so that your foot can develop mobility, proprioception, and strength. 
If you are an advanced climber, we suggest you take the time to try different sizes (1 to 2 sizes below normal) to find the best compromise between comfort and compression for more force when pushing off.

Sizing recommendations

Our first piece of advice is to never (under any circumstance) machine wash your shoes. Thermal and mechanical stress could damage them. We recommend that you wash them by hand, either with a sponge soaked in clean water or with a sponge soaked in soapy water (Marseille soap), being sure to air-dry them at a stable temperature and avoid drying them on a radiator or in direct sunlight. 

simond

Women's Climbing Shoes - Vertika Blue